Cheap Caribbean Architecture Could Lead To Disaster In Jamaica; New Act Could Prevent Issue

Cheap Caribbean architecture is abound in Jamaican structures which could lead to disastrous results, fortunately, a new act is expected to fix this issue. Architects are having a difficult time in finding jobs in Jamaica.

This wasn't due to the lack of need in the country, rather it's because owners opt to hire draftsmen instead for cheap Caribbean designing. According to The Gleaner, owners see architects as detriments to getting their construction done, instead of being seen as assets.

Owners think that architects only add up to their expense and they slow down the process of putting up a building. The source also revealed that 70 percent of the buildings in Jamaica are designed without an architect's expertise.

This makes up for cheap Caribbean architecture that could lead to danger when disaster strikes. After all, poor architecture could lead to jeopardizing the lives of many.

Hiring architects for building construction not only ensures structure longevity, it also ensures the safety of building occupants. According to The ArchitectsJournal, 17 schools in Scotland were closed due to "poor-quality construction." One of these schools even collapsed during a storm, which could also be the same fate of cheap Caribbean architecture in Jamaican complex.

Draftsmen are unable to cover all the work that architects are responsible for. Architects are more efficient in the proper placement of structures to ensure a solid construction as opposed to a cheap Caribbean built design that draftsmen could come up with.

However, Jamaica's century-old building act might be getting a revamp soon. The source mentioned that a new building act is expected to come sooner rather than later. The current building act requires owners to have their building plans to be approved by a registered architect.

Despite that requirement, there's still a significantly large percentage of buildings that are constructed without an architect's approval. This new building act, however, could ensure that cheap Caribbean architecture would no longer be prominent in the country.